التفكير النقدي في عالم الذكاء الصناعي

People in the West Bank have expressed hope that a ceasefire deal for the war in Gaza could lead to a united Palestinian future. But in times of transition, there is an information vacuum that can be easily exploited by misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda. Whenever people feel strongly about something, they seek out information that confirms existing beliefs. In this context, false information can spread rapidly. For people in crisis zones, the barrage of digital content can be simply overwhelming. 

But educators can help equip students for sorting out and evaluating the quality of information as they learn to spot the point of view and biases that are embedded in all media messages. Media literacy education is a way to ensure that young people have the knowledge and skills they need to be responsible media consumers and creators. A new program entitled Media Literacy: Critical Thinking for an AI World engaged 20 Palestinian educators and will reach more than 100 Palestinian youth from across the West Bank. 

In the spring and fall of 2025, educators from the West Bank participated in an online professional development learning community where they learned media literacy education theory and practice, and practiced applying instructional techniques designed to meet the specific needs of young Palestinian adults who are growing up in an AI-saturated world. 

“When educators gain confidence in teaching how to identify the credibility and intentions of the many digital authors they encounter, they can share their insights with their own students,” said Bilal Younis of the Yatta Association for Higher Education in the Palestinian Territories, who is leading the program. 

“Activating conflict and controversy as a way to control attention is now a dominant rhetorical strategy used in information, entertainment, and persuasion”,  said Yonty Friesem, a professor at Columbia College Chicago and a program leader. “Media literacy education has been proven to be effective all over the world in strengthening critical thinking and social responsibility in ways that protect people from disinformation and propaganda.”  

“This program will support empowerment and entrepreneurship and Palestinian educators will have the opportunity to develop confidence in teaching media literacy,” said Renee Hobbs, a professor at the University of Rhode Island who received a grant to support the program. Participants have explored how media representations both reflect and shape perceptions of the world, learning why facts don’t change people’s minds, the tactics used by conflict entrepreneurs, and the essential power of asking critical questions about the digital content you watch, see, read, listen to and use. 

The year-long program includes online interactive workshops for youth. Educators and students will receive a certificate and financial support for their work. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Renee Hobbs, hobbs@uri.edu